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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
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Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
David Smyth's rating
Reader rating
Description: The singers perform at this year's concert plus an appearance by Jude Law, a gala screening of The Day After Peace and more.
Phone: 0207589 8212
Website: www.royalalberthall.com
Trains: Tube: High Street Kensington 
, Tube / Bus: 9, 10, 52, 360 
Extra info: Pub, Food
Big day: Annie Lennox at the Royal Albert Hall
Making peace: Jude Law with Jeremy Gilley who started the campaign 10 years ago
Following the massive suicide bomb in Islamabad on Saturday came a bold attempt to make peace break out around the world yesterday , if only for 24 hours.
The Peace One Day campaign for an annual day of global ceasefire started with one man - Jeremy Gilley, a minor actor and filmmaker from Southampton who left school with nothing but a D in pottery - who has been making slow but increasingly impressive progress over the past 10 years.
The 2008 focal point was this awareness concert, featuring Annie Lennox, Peter Gabriel, Lenny Kravitz and John Legend. But far more importantly, all conflicting sides in Afghanistan made a written commitment to stay quiet yesterday, which allowed Unicef access to normally dangerous areas and vaccinate 1.8 million children against polio.
Other world troublespots have been slower to respond in such significant fashion, although symbolic gestures have been made. The Albert Hall audience also saw a screening of Gilley's film about his tireless endeavours, The Day After Peace, which he said will be shown in every school in America next year.
An uplifting story which was much more essential viewing than the rather subdued musical line-up, it revealed him to be a charismatic speaker who kept a cool head in the presence of both the League of Arab States and Angelina Jolie, and refused to give up on his idea despite overwhelming scepticism from media and politicians. If he was any more dogged he would have a collar and a tail. With the essential campaigner's knack of befriending celebrities, Gilley and Jude Law are virtually inseparable in the film, and Law also turned up to introduce the concert in the flesh. Bryan Adams was first up with an acoustic guitar and a violinist, setting a trend for low-key performances.
The charity gig always walks a fine line between being entertaining and trying not to have too much fun, and this struggled to hit the right tone. Annie Lennox was alone at the piano singing Pete Seeger's Where Have All The Flowers Gone? and Neil Young's Don't Let It Bring You Down, in front of statistics of war and photos of ravaged buildings. Again solo, Peter Gabriel sang an intensely personal ballad his 96-year-old father has asked him to play at his funeral. Even Lenny Kravitz's raucous Are You Gonna Go My Way was transformed into a brooding blues slowie.
John Legend was the only one to bring a band along, adding much needed pizzazz but also committing the cardinal charity show sin of plugging his new album's release date. However, his new song If You're Out There was an altruistic anthem in the classic mode, and he sent many home inspired to work towards Peace Two Days.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
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Who is the local violinist that accompanied Bryan Adams perform Heaven?
- Lance Lester Castillo, Manila, Philippines
I went along to this last night having been to last year's one also. Jeremy Gilley is a total inspiration and quite rightly received the biggest ovation of the night. Bryan Adams was on good form and stuck to a couple of his best known hits (including an awesome version of Heaven accompanied by a brilliant local violinist). Annie Lennox, despite her recent back operation, was on top form and used her incredibly emotional voice to good effect. The film was awesome, I'd recommend that people buy it from the peace one day website to see the story in full. Peter Gabriel came and went with little fuss although the song for his father was truly moving. An unexpected appearance from Lenny Kravitz followed with an awesome blues version of "Are You Gonna Go My Way?" the highlight. Then came John Legend who, despite being very entertaining was somewhat let down by some appalling drumming (or maybe the sound system from the drums) which had many heading for the exit.
All in all, the concert was well worth the entrance fee and was a great celebration of how one man's dream is slowly becoming a reality.
- Joe, London,UK
